Mask



R. M. RAY

June 18, 1957 MASK Filed April so. 1954 United States Patent Q.

MASK

Richard M. Ray, Oak Park, Ill.

Application April 30, 1954, Serial No. 426,651

2 Claims. (Cl. 2--206) This invention relates to a mask and, moreparticularly, to a decorative mask adapted to completely enclose andconceal the head of the wearer. The mask of this invention, and whichmay be made in accordance with the method of the invention, isparticularly suitable for use by children but may be used by others.

Innumerable types and kinds of masks have been used in the past toconceal the identity of the wearer. In general, the portion of the maskwhich provides the distinguishing external features is generally aboutthe face of the wearer and such masks are uncomfortable, are

dilficult to get on and off, and are easily damaged. All of these abovefeatures are aggravated if the mask is of the type that is designed tocompletely enclose the head of the wearer, and because of this it hasbeen quite general to provide partial masks wherein only the face of thewearer has been concealed.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a mask thatcompletely conceals the head of the wearer and which overcomes thedisadvantages set out above. Another object of the invention is toprovide a decorative mask and method of forming the same that has aportion of relatively large size to permit ease in putting on and takingoff the mask and which affords a considerable measure of comfort to thewearer when the mask is on and which, in addition, is designed to restupon the shoulders of the wearer wherein pressures and binding forcesupon the wearers face and head are eliminated. Still another object isin the provision of a mask and method of forming the same in which aplurality of parts are provided; the parts being quickly and easilyassembled to form the completed mask by even the most unskilled. Afurther object is in providing a plurality of die-cut mask portions, atleast some of which are assembled individually and thereby take on aformed configuration prior to the assembly of further mask portionsthereto. Yet a further object is to provide a mask that preferablyrepresentsthe face of an animal and in which the mask is formed ofindividual mask sections; the mask sections cooperating to form a sturdymask that will withstand considerable abuse. Additional objects andadvantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mask embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which one portion ofthe mask is formed; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which anotherportion of the mask is formed; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank fromwhich still another portion of a mask is formed.

Reference will first be made to Fig. l which shows a mask incorporatingthe present invention. The mask is designated generally with the letterA and in the illustra- 2,795,795 Patented June 18, 19 57 tion it is seenthat the head portion of a rooster is provided. It will be appreciatedthat the physical appearance of the mask may be made to representvarious animals and, in fact, the mask may represent any other desiredcharacter-man, animal, etc. Preferably, the mask A comprises a pluralityof mask sections and in the specific illustration given, the maskincludes a neck portion or section 10, face section 11, and a headportion 12 which, in this case, is the comb of the rooster.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the neck section 10 of theanimal is formed. It is believed that the neck 10 may best be describedby referring in particular to Figs. 1 and 7. The neck 10 is seen to beformed from a flat sheet of material which may be paper, flexibleplastic, or any other suitable material that can be bent into thetubular configuration shown in Fig. 1. Preferably, the neck portion isdie cut from the sheet of material and an upwardly-and inwardly-inclinededge 13 is thereby provided as well as a complementary upwardly andinwardly inclined edge 14 equipped with a plurality of spaced-apart tabs15. Extending in spaced, parallel relation with the edge 13 are aplurality of slits 16 that are adapted to receive therein the tabs 15.The upper portion of the neck is arcuate as is indicated by the numeral17.

Preferably the lower edge of the neck section is provided with anarcaute portion 18 and spaced therefrom a similar arcuate portion 19.When the section is brought together into the frustoconicalconfiguration shown in Fig. 1, the arcuate portions 18 and 19 are spacedapart and are adapted to rest on the shoulders of the wearer of themask. A pair of spaced apertures 20 and 21 are provided and these serveas eye openings when the mask is assembled. A large number of smallapertures or perforations 22 are provided throughout the bottom portionof the neck and these are to serve as ports so that air may be providedfor the wearer. As is seen in Fig. 7, the neck section of the mask has acenterline 23 extending longitudinally therethrough and the sections ofthe neck on each side of the center line are substantially identicalwith the exception of the complementary tabs 15 and slits 16. At theupper end portion of the neck a pair of generally vertical slits 24 areprovided on each side of the neck and these are used in securing thecomb 12 to the neck, as will be hereinafter described.

The face portion or section of the mask A is illustrated best in Figs. 1and 6 and reference will now be made to these figures in describing theface section. The face may be formed from any suitable material as hasbeen hereinbefore indicated and is preferably stamped from a blank inthe configuration illustrated. In the stamping operation two arcuate andsubstantially semicircular eye portions 25 are formed, as well as thegenerally elliptical portions 26 which extend outwardly and downwardlybelow the eye portions 25. A pointed central portion 27 is also formedin the stamping operation and this portion provides the beak when themask is assembled, as is shown in Fig. 1.

A center line 28 extends longitudinally through the face portion 11. Apair of spaced slits 29 and 30 provide a mounting for the comb 12 aswill be hereinafter described. It will be noted that a pair of tabs 31are also formed adjacent the arcuate'eye portions 25 and theseareemployed in securing the face section of the mask to the neck 10 in theassembly thereof.

Reference will now be made in particular to Figs. 1 and 5 in thedescription of the comb 12. The comb is also cut from a blank ofmaterial and is provided with a center line 32 extending verticallythrough the blank from which the comb is formed. A pair of openings 33are provided centrally of the blank and are in general alignment withthe center line 32. The top edge portion of the comb blank is a'rcuate,as is indicated at 34, while the lower edge portion of the comb is alsoarcuate, as is shown at 35. The arcuate portions provide the roundedfront and rear sections of the comb when it is assembled, as is seen inFig. 1. The lateral edges of the comb blank are generally V-shaped andprovide a plurality of tabs 36 and 37.

The tabs provided by the neck, face, and comb sections of the mask areall formed with a central portion 38 and bendable end portions 39 whichmay be folded over and upon the central portion 38 to enable the tab tobe inserted through a complementary slit. It is believed that the Fig. 2illustration shows the separate portions of the tabs best.

In the forming of the mask the neck portion is first rolled upon itselfinto the generally frusto-conical configuration seen in Figs. 1 and 2.The end portions 39 of each of the tabs are folded over so that they liefiat on the central portions of the tabs. The tabs are then insertedthrough each of the complementary slits 16 and after this operation theend portions 39 of the tabs are turned outwardly so that the tab isfirmly anchored within the slit. After this operation the neck sectionis completely formed and is ready to receive the face and comb sectionsof the mask thereon.

The face portion 11 of the mask is then folded along the center line 28and the end portions of each of the tabs 31 are folded over so that thetabs may be inserted readily through the lower slits 24 provided in theneck section 10 of the mask. Similarly, the comb 12 is folded along thecenter line 32 and the end portions of each of these tabs are foldedupon themselves so that the tabs may be quickly and easily insertedthrough first the slits 29 and provided along the center line 28 of theface section, and then into the upper slits 24 provided in the neckportion 10. It should be understood that since the tabs are insertedthrough the respective slits, the end portions thereof are turnedoutwardly so that the tabs are anchored within the slits and there canbe no inadvertent separation of the mask sections.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the position of the tabs after insertionthrough the respective slits. Fig. 3 shows the anchoring of the faceportion 11 of the mask to the neck 10, while Fig. 4 shows the anchoringof the comb 12 to the neck 10. On the other hand, the sectional showingof Fig. 2 illustrates the neck, face, and comb when assembled.

If desired, the mask may be painted or colored or otherwise decoratedwith the desired characters to make more realistic the representation ofthe rooster or other animal illustrated by the mask. In this respect,the coloring marks may be provided. It is seen in Fig. 1 that theapertures 33 in the comb section 12 of the mask provide the spacedarouate indentations 41 along the upper edge portion of the comb. Theface portion or section 11 of the mask extends freely along the sidewalls of the neck 10 so that the arcuate members 26 of the face are freeto move slightly wherein the representation of the rooster is morerealistic.

It will be appreciated that the steps in forming the mask are quitesimple and involve only the operation of inserting the tabs provided bythe various mask sections through the complementary slits intended forsuch insertion. The neck 10 of the mask is preformed once the tabs 15are inserted through the slits 16, and maintains the generalfrustoconical shape that is established when the tabs have been properlyinserted through the slits 16. The face portion 11 and comb portion 12of the mask are secured together and also, both the face portion andcomb portion are anchored to the neck by means of the tabs 31 and 36 and57 provided respectively by the face and comb which are inserted throughthe slits 24 provided by the neck. Thus all of the mask sections areanchored together and a sturdy mask assembly is provided.

It is evident that the lower portion of the neck is substantially largerthan the upper portion thereof and the neck section can be quickly andeasily inserted over the head of the wearer and will completely enclosethe same. The mask will rest and be supported upon the shoulders of thewearer and the arcuate segments 18 and 19 of the lower neck edge conformgenerally to the shoulder curvature and are adapted to receive theshoulders. Thus there is no weight supported by the head of the personwearing the mask and the enlarged lower neck portion permits freedom ofmovement therein.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention hasbeen set out in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that considerable deviationmay be made in these details without departing from the spirit andprinciples of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a put-together mask to be worn by a person for concealing the headand neck thereof and comprising a plurality of separate sectionsremovably secured together, one of said sections being a neck portioncomprising an elongated, hollow, generally frusto-conical mem her havingan enlarged lower end adapted to receive the head of a person thereinand having a restricted upper end adapted to extend thereabove, saidneck portion having also eye openings therein spaced upwardly from thelower end thereof for general alignment with the eyes of a personwearing the mask to aflford vision therethrough when the lower edges ofthe neck portion are resting substantially on the shoulders of suchperson, another of said sections being a face portion having the outlineof an animal character depicted by the mask and having a generallyinverted, substantially U-shaped configuration and with portions thereofoverlying the restricted upper end of said neck portion, said faceportion and neck portion provided with interconnecting tabs and slotsfor releasably locking the same together, and a head portion having theoutline of a corresponding portion of the same animal character, saidhead and face portions provided with interconnecting tabs and slots forreleasably locking the same together, whereby said mask constitutes athreedimension animal characterization.

2. The mask of claim 1 wherein said head and neck portions are alsoprovided with interconnecting tabs and slots for releasably securing thesame together so that an interlock is afforded between all of saidportions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,181,421 Apt May 2, 1916 1,309,783 Slawin July 15, 1919 1,482,270Shuster Jan. 29, 1924 2,000,242 Manning May 7, 1935 2,127,620 SabaneeliAug. 23, 1938 2,258,531 Baldwin Oct. 7, 1941 2,289,858 Angrave July 14,1942 2,515,959 Johnson July 18, 1950 2,637,038 Bower May 5, 1953

